I’m not surprised by the Casey review, but I am still praying for change

30 years on from the murder of Stephen Lawrence, Baroness Casey’s scathing review of the Metropolitan police has revealed a failing institution still rife with racism. It’s what Black people have been saying for decades, says Ben Lindsay

“I make a finding of institutional racism, sexism and homophobia in the Met.” This is the conclusion from Baroness Casey’s review into the Metropolitan police service. It is with deep sadness that this comes as no surprise.

Earlier independent reviews have come to the same judgement, notably the Scarman report (1981), published in response to the Brixton riots, and the Macpherson inquiry (1999) which addressed police failings after the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence. For many, this will feel like Déjà vu. The difference this time is that previous high-profile reports have focused primarily on racism in the MET, but the Casey review highlights other forms of discrimination. Now, it’s not just Black and Brown people calling out police discrimination. The conversation has gone wider.